2021 Ford Bronco Owner’s Manual Has Secrets to Reveal

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The release of the 2021 Ford Bronco has been eventful, to say the very least. Ford has been hit harder than many automakers by supply chain interruptions and shortages. The release of the highly-anticipated SUV has been delayed multiple times, frustrating buyers. A possible leak of the coming Bronco’ manual may have revealed some exciting secrets that might make the SUV worth the wait. The 552-page document

2021 Ford Bronco | Ford

Hybrid 2021 Bronco Confirmed

On page 370 of this massive PDF, under the heading “Storage,” readers will find information on hybrid battery systems. The manual reads: “We recommend the following actions for your vehicle: When storing your vehicle for greater than 30 days, the state of charge should be approximately 50%. Additionally, we recommend disconnecting the 12V battery, which will reduce system loads on the HV battery.”

A hybrid model is mentioned again in the “Scheduled Maintenance” section. In describing the function and benefits of the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitoring system, the Bronco owner’s manual states: “a message appears in the information display at the proper oil change interval. This interval may be up to one year or 10,000 mi (16,000 km), hybrid vehicles could exceed 10,000 mi (16,000 km).”

Hybrid-specific voice commands further confirm a plug-in is on the way. Drivers will be able to view or change their charging schedule using voice command options. They can also ask for an update on the current charging cycle and upcoming events.

Bronco fans are surprised by a few features and caveats

A person watching the 2021 Ford Bronco World Premier on a laptop.
2021 Ford Bronco Family World Premiere | Olivier Douliery / AFP via Getty Images

The moment an alleged 2021 Ford Bronco owner’s manual was posted to Bronco6G, enthusiasts could not wait to sink into the massive document. Right away, comments began rolling in about surprising features and limitations. On such surprise is that only turbocharged Broncos with the 2.3-liter Ecoboost inline-4 will be equipped with a stock boost gauge.

Further research found that Bronco owners will be able to turn off the SUV’s auto start/stop feature with a dashboard-mounted switch. This setting will not be saved, and drivers will need to follow the same process every time they start their Bronco.

Some were excited to find instructions for disabling the onboard modem. This allows drivers to take their SUVs offline if they choose. Some may prefer to skip over the air firmware updates and appreciate having the ability to disable these automatic updates. Some prefer to disable the modem.

Speculations fly where details are light

ahead of the V8 Supercars Clipsal 500 at Adelaide Street Circuit on February 26, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia.

As much as this document has revealed, it also brings up more questions. There are a few confusing passages. Page 302 recommends drivers reset their fuel shut-off switch in the case of a collision. This system reduces the risk of fire in the event of a crash and can be set off without much impact. The manual does not specify the location of this vital switch.

The released manual has few details and very little information about the SUV’s infotainment system. These systems can make or break the owner’s experience of owning a new vehicle. It’s only natural that buyers who have waited so long for their Broncos would want more insight into this vital system.

Ford has not confirmed if this is the official manual or if an updated version will accompany the 2021 Bronco after it’s delivered. Without word from the manufacturer, it’s not completely official. A 552-page hoax would be unlikely, but it’s best to think of this leaked PDF as unofficial until Ford makes a statement.

RELATED: Another 2021 Ford Bronco Delay Announced in Late-Night Letters

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The Daymak Spiritus EV Will Help You Mine Cryptocurrencies

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The EV market is full of fresh blood these days. From Rivian to GMC’s Hummer, big electric trucks and SUVs are the norm. However, Daymak chose to go the other way. Daymak is a small electric mobility solutions company, making everything from scooters to e-bikes, to some more wild creations that haven’t seen the light of day yet, like a flying car. Their most recent offering, the Spiritus is a small EV 3-wheeler, and apparently, it has some pretty neat tricks.

Daymak’s EV: figures and specs

The Spiritus EV | Daymak

The Toronto-based manufacturer says the 2 seater Slingshot-Esque EV “isn’t for everyone”. However, there are two versions available for preorder, so they must be for someone. Or two someones. The first model is a much lower trim of the Spiritus, the Deluxe. There’s only three exterior colors available for both trims right now, blue, red, and black. Steering wheels are an option on the pricer Spiritus Ultimate, but not on the lower-level “Deluxe” car. Pricing starts at $19,995 for the Deluxe and $149,000 for the ultimate. Quite the price gap, but Daymak does their best to justify it.

Both trim levels will weigh around 1,300 lbs, incredibly light; but then the Spiritus is rather small. Batteries are either 75 or 147kw, with top speeds ranging from “85+” to “130+” MPH. Both models will be able to charge via regenerative braking and solar panels on the roof. Now, here’s where things get a little… ambitious. Daymak says that Ultimate models will be able to hit 60 MPH in 1.8 seconds, almost as fast as a Tesla Roadster. The prototype lacks front motors, and that’s a lot of hauling for one electric motor to do, even with so little weight. The Ultimate will be even lighter, as it will have a carbon-fiber body.

It’ll do WHAT?

A rendering of the interior of the Daymak Spiritus, covered with screens
The interior of the Spiritus | Daymak

While the specs sheet on the Spiritus is impressive, especially in “Ultimate” guise, there’s one feature that hasn’t been mentioned yet. For some wholly inexplicable reason, your Spiritus will be able to mine cryptocurrencies for you. The company believes that crypto will play a much larger role by the car’s 2023 release date, and you’ll be able to use a function called Nebula Wallet to access your crypto mining profits, meme stock, or not.

Some manufacturers do offer wallet integration, largely for the purpose of paying for EV charging. However, this is a whole other step. Assuming that paying for charging is what the Nebula Wallet is intended for, the idea isn’t terrible. Hopefully, Daymak will let you make your lease payments through the function, given the astronomical price of the Spiritus Ultimate.

A promising start

The brick exterior of a Daymak facility
The Daymak production facility | James MacDonald via Getty Images

Daymak’s website makes a lot of promises. From sub-2 second 0-60 times to autonomous driving, to wireless charging and crypto mining. It’s safe to say that the project is ambitious, if not a little optimistic. Such is the vision of the future. Ambition can certainly pay off, after all. Look at Tesla. Whether this little EV can rival the big dogs remains to be seen, but the results will be interesting for sure. For now, it’s a race to see who can make their concept car first, Tesla with their Cybertruck, or Daymak’s Spiritus.

RELATED: The Senate Wants to up the EV Tax Credit, Again

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Will There Be a Kia Version of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

While it’s not a Ford F-150 rival, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz is a compelling pickup choice for urban dwellers. Not least because of features like under-bed storage and a potential 5000-lb towing capacity. However, with the launch of the Ford Maverick, the Santa Cruz has direct competition in the compact pickup world. Could Hyundai be considering answering not with a performance variant, but a related Kia pickup truck?

Kia and Hyundai already share platforms, powertrains, and other technology

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz rear 3/4 | Hyundai

The idea of a Kia pickup truck based on the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz isn’t a far-fetched one. Although Kia and Hyundai are separate brands, they’re owned by the same parent company. As a result, many of their vehicles share parts.

The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are excellent examples of this. While the three-row SUVs have different styling, they ride on the same platform and use the same powertrain. And apart from some equipment differences between trim levels, both offer the same kinds of options. It’s a similar story with the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Kona.

To be sure, not every Kia vehicle has a Hyundai equivalent and vice versa. For example, there’s no Hyundai version of the Kia Carnival minivan. And with the death of the Elantra GT hatchback, the Hyundai Veloster has no Kia counterpart. Still, these are more the exceptions than the rule.

It’s also worth noting the Hyundai Santa Cruz already has a Kia connection—sort of. The 2022 Santa Cruz is built on the same platform as the 2022 Tucson. And the Tucson in turn shares a platform with the current-gen Kia Sportage. Therefore, making a Kia truck out of the Santa Cruz is theoretically possible.

A brand executive has confirmed a Kia pickup truck is coming—to Australia

A dark-green 2020 Kia Telluride midsize crossover SUV parked in front of a red butte and mountains
2020 Kia Telluride | Kia

‘Theoretically’ might be the wrong word to use, though. Because we already know Kia is working on making a pickup truck. And this comes straight from a Kia executive.

In June 2019, the Australian motoring site CarsGuide spoke with Kia Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Damien Meredith about a potential Kia pickup truck. And Meredith confirmed that the brand was working on bringing a dual-cab pickup to market in 2022 or 2023. However, the confirmation comes with several caveats.

Firstly, Meredith only confirmed a Kia pickup truck was coming to the Australian market in that time frame. Secondly, he claimed Hyundai Australia would have its own version of that truck. If that seems odd, it’s because the Kia pickup truck wouldn’t be a “‘lifestyle vehicle’ like the Hyundai Santa Cruz,” CarsGuide explains. Instead, it would likely be styled after the Telluride.

Would a Kia version of the Hyundai Santa Cruz come to the US?

So, does all that mean the US won’t be getting a Kia pickup truck at all, let alone one based on the Hyundai Santa Cruz? The answer is maybe, maybe not.

Shortly after the CarsGuide news, Motor1 reached out to Kia North America for comment. The replying spokesperson couldn’t “‘comment on remarks made about the brand outside the US market.'” However, they also remarked that “that Kia is ‘always studying the [American] market’ for new opportunities.”

It’s worth pointing out that CarsGuide’s and Motor1’s reports date back to 2019. A lot has changed in the past few years. Most notably, as mentioned earlier, the Santa Cruz’s competition isn’t limited to the Honda Ridgeline anymore. And with the possibility of a unibody Ram Dakota, the Ford Maverick might not be Hyundai’s only truck rival, either.

Making a Kia version of the Santa Cruz would give the platform a better fighting chance on the market. Not to mention more revenue for the parent company. In short, the Hyundai Motor Group has some incentive to pursue the idea. But until there’s official word, all we can do is speculate.

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RELATED: The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz N Would Be a Phenomenal Upgrade

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The Chevy Colorado Is Among the Least Safe Trucks

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Newer safety and driver assist technologies are part of what make new cars safe. Thicker crash structures around the windows can often hamper visibility, especially in larger trucks like the ones made by Chevy. In order to encourage the use of new safety systems like pedestrian alert, manufacturers must work to make advanced safety tech affordable in new models. However, some only make the tech an option, one that some drivers may skip at the dealer ship. It seems no one else is a bigger culprit than Chevy with their trucks.

What’s missing in the Chevy Colorado

Colorado Z71 | Chevy

The Chevy Colorado is a fine truck. Large bed, comfy interior, nice features. No one can fault you for wanting one, especially if you want something a hair under a full-sized pickup, though the Colorado can be specced with an extended bed and cab. Unfortunately, some of those nice features that keep others and yourself safe cost a little extra money at the dealership. In some cases, a lot.

For example, a new Chevy Colorado can be ordered with the $395 Safety Package which includes Forward Collision and Lane Departure assists. Not a bad deal. Now for the bad news. The Colorado only offers those few safety features as optional extras, according to Consumer Reports. Features like auto-braking and blind-spot monitoring aren’t even available for the Colorado. Neither is pedestrian detection, something that’s incredibly important around small children, who may not be seen over the nose of the large truck.

The Chevrolet Silverado lacks some features too

A dark blue Chevy Silverado RST rolling down an open road
2021 Silverado RST | Chevy

Hopefully, the Chevy Silverado will fare better regarding safety measures. In some regards, it does, with more features available across a wider model range. Sadly, if any of the above features are available, they’re optional. From the Silverado 1500 up to the 3500HD, things are a bit of a mixed bag, with some safety features being available and others offered only as optional extras.

The Silverado 1500 truck does offer the Consumer Reports’ safety trifecta of auto-braking, blind-spot monitoring, and pedestrian detection, but only as optional extras. The Silverado 2500HD only gets auto-braking and blind-spot warning systems. The same can be said for the Silverado 3500HD. Surely there’s some mechanical reason why pedestrian detection isn’t available, but regardless, it can make avoiding an accident in the larger Chevy’s all the more difficult.

Nissan’s Titan: safer than the rest

A Nissan Titan off-road, nose in the air
2021 Nissan Titan | Nissan

Frankly, Chevy ought to take a page out of Nissan’s book, or maybe a Leaf. The 2021 Nissan Titan comes standard with auto-braking, pedestrian warning, and blind-spot systems. Driving a big truck can severely limit your visibility in both urban environments, and these key features help keep you out of an accident.

It’s best to look for a truck that does boast these features as standard. That way, you can avoid paying more at the dealership for features that are standard elsewhere. Regardless, these features are becoming increasingly important in our day-to-day lives, and having to pay out the nose for them isn’t a very solid business practice, now is it?

RELATED: Advanced Safety Systems: What Are They All About?

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